KUALA LUMPUR: Former national shuttler Soniia Cheah is still going strong because of her love for the game.
The 29-year-old said recently that she came to realise this after competing in the World Championships in Tokyo in August.
After being dropped by BAM last year, Soniia took a step back from top flight badminton and focused on coaching.
In April this year, Soniia started her own academy, Sunheart Badminton with her sister Lyddia.
However, when she learned that she had made the cut for the world meet in Tokyo, the former national No 1 jumped at the opportunity.
This week, Soniia is in Sydney for the Australian Open, and is slated to face former world champion Nozomi Okuhara of Japan in the second round.
"I actually love playing badminton so much. I felt so alive again after playing in the World Championships.
"It's the kind of happiness you can't find anywhere else. I made the decision to continue playing after the world meet," said Soniia, who will open her campaign in the first round tomorrow against Indonesia's Putri Kusuma Wardani.
"I'm looking forward to play Okuhara. I've always enjoyed going up against higher ranked opponents.
"There really isn't any pressure on me, but first let me get past my tricky opener."
The other Malaysian women's singles in the fray are S. Kisona and Goh Jin Wei. Jin Wei plays India's Tanya Hemanth in the first round while Kisona is up against Thailand's Pornpawee Chochuwong.